Renewable Tidal Power Generation Significance & Challenges

In the era of technological advancement, numerous energy sources have been discovered for facilitation of human life on earth across the globe. Major renewable sources for energy are solar, wind, hydro, ocean/tidal, geothermal, and biomass. Ocean energy is a form of hydro energy which is captured by wave or tidal current stream. Marine tidal stream is reflected as a reliable renewable power generation source owing to its predictability present in tidal current. Globally, tidal energy production for the coastal areas, is estimated around 1 terawatts (TW/h/) per annum. On the contrary, availability of useful energy for power generation by tidal resource vary between 120 and 400 GW, dependent on the location and the prospective potential for conversion. Currently, Pakistan is facing power crisis which needs to be catered by utilizing various energy resources. The total energy requirement in Pakistan is about 25000MW approximately. One of the potential renewable sources that can cater energy need is tidal power generation. Pakistan owing to its vast coastline of about 1040 km long have a great potential to invest in tidal energy generation. In the year 1988, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) executed a study resulting that the coastal belt of Pakistan can have sufficient tidal energy generation at 17 creeks locations at economical rates. Therefore, energy shortfall in Pakistan can be catered via tidal energy. Enabling Pakistan to enter in the pool of green tidal energy generation region globally. In this paper, we will discuss energy sources, recent technology in renewable, tidal energy generation, benefits, and challenges for renewable energy generation using tidal energy. Furthermore, its comparison with other energy generating sources in Pakistan. For instance, coal, hydel, solar, wind, biogas, solid waste and nuclear power generation. Hence energy potential from underwater tidal turbine can be exploited for benefit of Pakistan.